It's hot in the city, hot in the city tonight! And we're not even talking about the weather. There's a ton of amazing things happening in NYC, and we've been running around like madwomen (more than usual) trying to cover everything.

This week we went to the Bronx to see what was growing on at the New York Botanical Garden, hit Queens for a preview of the Museum of the Moving Image's new exhibit Jim Henson's Fantastic World, caught a performance of the Berenstain Bears musical on the Upper West Side, and even chatted with Grammy winning children's music god Dan Zanes, who's playing a free concert this Saturday in Brooklyn.

Plus, we launched our amazing Hot List deal. For $4.95, you can download our ebook which features more than $1,000 in savings on the best things to do in NYC this summer.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut.

Summer is in full swing: Temperatures keep hitting 90, playground sprinklers are always on and campers seem to be taking over the city. (Central Park is full of them chanting at the top of their lungs!)

If you have the luxury of spending the entire season with your family, there are plenty of ways to have fun. We've compiled 100 free things to do this summer with ideas for every single day, as well as some anytime activities.

If you only get to hang out on Saturdays and Sundays, there's still a lot to do. This weekend you've got SummerStage's Family Day in Central Park and a big Bastille Day bash, both free.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut.

There's a lot to celebrate this week: The end of school, the opening of public pools and, of course, the birth of our nation. There will be lots of fireworks on Monday, July 4. Macy's spectacular is the most famous but you can catch explosive displays in Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut. 

Of course there's plenty of other things to do beyond holiday sparklers, like see a new interactive musical for little kids or take a day trip to a nearby water park.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut.

It's been a whirlwind of hellos (what's up, summer?) and goodbyes (see ya, school). Tuesday marks the last day of classes for public school students, and since most camps don't begin until after the Fourth of July, we know you'll be looking for things to do next week—and beyond. That's why we rounded up 100 free things to do this summer, with ideas for every single day through the end of August.

Next week's picks include cool concerts, no-cost admission to the Staten Island Children's Museum and the Children's Museum of Manhattan, and SummerStage's Bronx Family Day. Click here for the complete list, and start planning your summer staycation.

We also wanted to highlight two new additions to our site. We're now posting slide shows. That way when we do something extra-cool, like rock climbing at Brooklyn Boulders, you can actually see how much fun we had. Also, if you've been wondering who the mommies of Mommy Poppins are, check out our revamped About page. There you'll find links to bios for our current contributors, and other great info about the site.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut.

This week, we were all about dear old dad. We highlighted fun things to do on Father's Day, shared one daddy blogger's take on a new documentary about fatherhood and rounded up a bunch of daddy and me swim classes. OK, yes, we called them mommy and me, but we were quick to point out that fathers are also welcome. Because anything moms can do, dads can do, too—except give birth (you guys got off lucky there!).

Of course, we also wrote about lots of stuff kids can enjoy with or without dad in tow, including two new interactive exhibits and fabulous frozen treats.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut.

How many times have you waited on a long line with your kids for a bouncy house and thought, I wish there were something in this for me. Well, make your way to the northern end of the recently opened Section 2 of the High Line, and you shall be rewarded.

Although it looks like a mash up of a carnival, Candy Land and Kid Robot, the brand-new installation Rainbow City isn't specifically aimed at children—the nearby beer garden and high-end food trucks kind of give that away. Still, visitors of all ages are welcome to explore this colorful, pop-art environment, which features 40 inflatable structures to push, pull, jump on and roam within. Yes, parents are allowed to bop around the bouncy houses, too, and the entire experience is totally free.

Located in a lot on 30th Street and Tenth Avenue, Rainbow City isn't actually on the High Line, so you can access it from the street. But it's worth approaching the place from the elevated park. The view of all of the whimsical inflatables swaying about is spectacular.

Not since Ernesto Neto's anthropodino at the Park Avenue Armory has an adult art installation so captured my kid's imagination and attention, and I felt the same way. One look at the photos of her running around, and you'll see why.

Break out your bathing suits! Whether the kids wear them at the beach, in the sprinklers or during the (hopefully brief) showers we're expecting over the weekend, they'll be covered.

Although spring officially has a few weeks to go, summer heat and fun has already arrived. Local libraries just launched their Summer Reading 2011 programs, many free outdoor concert series for kids and adults have kicked off their seasons, and the Parks Department has set the dates for its free swimming lessons lottery.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut.

If your kids like comedy and kung fu, they'll get a big kick out of Jump at New World Stages. This martial arts show from Korea has been touring the world for the past few years (it previously played in NYC during the 2007-2008 season), and it follows in the tradition of Off Broadway offerings like Stomp: wordless spectacles that leap over age and language barriers.

I admit, my daughter and I are not huge martial arts fans. (Is it sexist of me to say it's a boy thing?) Even so, we were wowed by the fast, high-flying feats, and the kids in the audience particularly enjoyed all of the slapstick humor, which is choreographed with Jackie Chan-like precision.

If you want to see this show, you've got to move fast: We just found out that it's closing this Sunday, June 12!